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Nov. 11 ,41924.

E. A. GEIGER ET AL CARD DAMPENING AND STENCILING MACHINE Filed March 25 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Nov. 11 1924. 1,514,611

E. A. GElGr-:R E1'` Al. v

CARD DAMPENING AND STENCILING MACHINE Filed March 25 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllll! ENToR g@ A- q will? Nov. ll 1924.

Filed March 25 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY ATTORNEY Nov. 11 1924.

E. A. GEIGER ET AL.

CARD DAMPENING AND s'rENcILING MACHINE Filed March 25 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 WM I-- N ml E w u w w MM. r NN NM. uw .MN km. -CyM z, M W wv..

E.4 A. GEIGER ET AL CARD DAMPENING AND STENCILING MACH-INE Filed March 25 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5- /ffw V 7gg 7 fr 'E INVENTOR Patented Nov. l1, i924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A. GEIGER, F RDGEWOOD, NEW' JERSEY, AND HENRY T. JENNINGS, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS T0 -RAPID ADDRESSING MACHINE COMPANY,

. A CORPORATION or Nnw YORK.

CARD DAMPENING AND STENCILING MACHINE.

' Application filed March 25, 1924, Serial NO. 701,617.

To 'all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EnwrN A. Ginori: and HENRY T. JnNNINes, citizens oi the United States of America, residing at Ridgewood, Bergen County, State Oi New Jersey, and Brooklyn, city of New York,

county of Kings, and State of New York,

respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Card Dampening and Stenciling Machines, oi' which the iollowing is a specification` `Our invention relates to apparatus for dampening and stenciling cards having panels of long, loosely felted ibre paper treated with a coating which can be remo-ved by the blow of the type of an ordinary typewriting machine and is designed to assemble in one apparatus the necessary devices for feeding such cards successively from a. suitable magazine through a dampening device and then to the typing machine which is arranged to operate on them while still in th card guides of the apparatus. p

Heretofore it has* been customary ttor the typist to `pick up such cards one by one, dampen them with a moist brush and then adjustithe same in the typewritingmachine preparatory to stenciling the desired name and address therein. With our invention all these operations are automatically performed by merely lpressing down aV pedai placed under the machine.

The best `form vof apparatus at present known to us embodying our invention is illustrated in the accompanying three sheets `of drawings in whichy Fig. 1 is a frontelevation of the machine the typing, machine being indicated i iu broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a plan view with the card magazine shown in section on line 3-6 ot Fig. 2, parts of the table broken away and portions of the exposed structure shown. in section. y

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section Oi' portions of the table and connected parts with others broken away.

Fig. v5` is a similar view of parts of the apparatus shown in Fig.' 4 drawn on a larger scale, the card dampening apparatus being in position for receipt of a card.

Fig. 6 is a verticall cross section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4, taken onan enlarged scale and parts broken away, and

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the various stations of the progress of a. card from magazine to receiving hopper. l

Throughout the drawings like reference characters indicate like parts. y

l is the main supporting frame on which rests the table 2, carrying ,at one end the card `magazine 3 in which is shown astack of Cards 54'. Thebottom card of this stack rests in the card guides 4, which extend out horizontally through the middle portion of table 2 and terminate over the receiving hopper 5. V6 represents generally a dampen-- ing apparatus located in operativey relation to the cards passing along said `guide between the magazine and the hopper. 7 is a typewriting machine of the `class' known as check-writing or billing machines, adapted to operate upon a card held in the guides after it has passed the dampener. 8 is a feed claw pivoted at 9 on thecarriage 10, which slides onthe guides 11 so disposed that said claw may grasp the card at the bottom of thestack and i'orce the same out into the position marked First station in Fig. 7. This feed device is reciprocated by the link 12, pivoted to it at one end and at the other end to the upper arm of bell crank 13 pivoted at 14 in the housing 15, extending downward from the table 2. The other arm of bell crank 13 is connected by adjustable pivoted link 16 to pedal lever 17 pivoted at 18 in the housing 19 supported by the cross bar 2O in the lower portion of frame 1, as clearlyshown in Figs. 1 and 2.4

While various forms of dampening apparatus might be employed, we have illustrated in detail in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the pre ferred form of such apparatus certain elements of which are adapted to cooperate with the typing machine. `This apparatus comprises a pair of levers 21, slotted at 23 to cooperatefwith another pair of levers 22, carrying pins 24 engaging said slots 23, which levers are carried by shafts 25 and 26 respectively supported by pivot pins 35, 36 (best shown in Fig. 3) set in housings 45 and 46 which project downwardly from table 2. The vertically movable platen 29 in said table is supported on toes 27, 28, formed on shafts 25, 26, respectivelyand engaging the bearing lugs 30, 31, projecting d0W11re1td1-v` fram. the. platen 2.9- The platen s guided by screws 37., set in the underside of table 2, and extending through perforated lugs 3S projecting from the cornersbf" laten 29. Normally in Fig. 4 by means of the strong tension springs 34 connecting arms 32.011 shaft 26 with arms 33 on shaft 25. rlihis brings thev platen 29v up into the ,plane of the table 2, as shown in Fig. 4. To depress said platen andgezpandisjpring 34, a downward tension may be applied to levers 2.1` bynieans of the Chainl 5a the. tener end.. et which is faste ,tolthe'lcrossbar coiinecting the ends ofthe two levers 21,Whil`e the lower end of N y( A ected, to the forward portion of thef'pedaljleverl?, As shown in Fig. 3., there are duplicate sets of the levers 21,

2.2. and. Sittings '34, enfl- Cooperating parte.

oneseto-n'eachside ofK platen 29. l

39. isa bar or strip set` in an opening in platen-129' and,K eirtendingacross said platen to servefas vagsupport for a ribbon of felt or v the longfvlarmslof levers 43. The other, shorter arms of levers 43V are connected by shaft 50, which extends through housings 47, pro'- jecti-ng `downwardly on, theI under side'vof the-platen 29. 52 is a facing of'compressible andfpreferably absorbent material such as felt on the underside-of the compressor strip 42; vThese levers 43, are pivotedy on pins 44 setinhousings 51.,

4As the result ofrthe above construction it is obvious that when the pedal, 17 is pressed down and thegparts 'pulled into the position shown in., Fig. 5; against the tension of springs .3.4, the depression ofthe platen29 will raise the long armsof levers 43 and with itthe presser-strip 42 into the position there shown in Fig. 5.

When the. pedal 17v is released by the operatorsprings`34 throw the parts into the position 'shown in Fig. 4 with thev presser strip 42 forced down on the upper surface of thel card 'which' is inthe second station sliOwnfinF-ig. 7, within the 'grasp of the moistening device. At the saine time, of course, the moiste'ning ribbon 40. is forced up againstthefunder surface of said card and during this .operation the feed clfaw 8 is trav'- clingr back; to the vfull, line position lshown in ,i the leversk A2laridi22 vareheldup in the position shown Fig. 4 ready to grasp another card at the next operation. y

4Sisa. panel of Celluloid or other suitable elastic material so placed as to come under the card when itis in the third station shown in Fig. 7 after it hasbeen dampened and advanced to the operatingzone of the typing machine 7.

49, 49, represent friction stops, shown in Fig. .5, adapted to bear onthe cards in stations 1 and 3, `and prevent them being cai'- ried by their inertia beyond their proper stations and so interfere with the proper operation of the-dampening' and typing devices. f

The. typing machine 7'is mounted on rollers 53, shown in Figs. 1 and 2,`so that it may be moved horizontally to properly adjust it with reference to the cardv in station 3 beneath it, or to remove it entirely from over the platen 29 and card guides so that access may be had to them.

The operation of the above described apparatus is as outlined'in the foregoing dcscription, ity being understood that when the operator is pressing down on pedal 17 and thereby causing the rfeed'claw 8 to advance from the full line position `shown in Fig. 4 t0 4that shown in brolren lines therein, the platen 29 is lowered slightly and the presser strip 42 raised, as shown in Fig. 5 so that the entire line of cards in the guides 4 'are free to move forward under the urge of said feed claw, and that .when the operator removes his foot from pedal 17 and springs 34 retract the claw 8 andthe line of cards are at rest, the platen 29 risesand, cooperating with the presser strip 42, clamps one card in the dampening device while `the card ahead of that is lifted into a position such that it may be stencilizedby the typing. machine 7.

One type bar 5S of the typing machine is shown depressed to operate on a card in Fig. 2.

Among the advantages of our invention may be mentioned the accuracy with which the "cards are made to register with the danipening and typing` devices'in the course of the progress of the .cards .along the card guides, the efficient action of the dainpening device, due to the progressive application of the pressure of the dainpening members 40 vand 42, which make initial contactwith each card at the forward edge thereofaiid then extend their areas of such Contact across the card to the rear edge thereof, as the result of the presser strip 42 swinging from pivots located below the level of the ribbon supporting bar 39, and to one-side thereof, and the even application of moisture resulting from the card being thus clamped between upper and lower moisturev absorbing surfaces. The carrying ofthe liquid reservoir on an' immovable support avoids any tendency to slop the liquid, and the transmission of the liquid to `the moistening surfaces by capillary action through a loosely hanging ribbon ensures an even and certain inoistening of the card. The herein described preferred construction also is compact, light in weight and reduces internal friction to a minimum, while the operating of the entire mechanism from one set of springs 34, 34, flexed by one pedal, eliminates backlash and lost motion.

Having described our invention `we claim:

l. In a card stenciling apparatus the coinbination of horizontal card guides, a magazine `for cards located at one end of said guides, a typing machine located over said guides 'near the other end thereof adapted to operate on a card in said guides and adjustable in a horizontal plane, a dampening device vlocated along said guides between said magazine and said typing machine, and means for feedingy cards along said guides from magazine to typing machine.

2. An apparatus such as set forth in claim l combined with friction stops for holding the card at intervals in its progress through said guides one stop being located adjacent the dampening device and another adjacent the typing machine.

3. In a card stenciling apparatus the combination, with guides for the cards, of a dampening device comprising a reservoir of fluid below said guides, a platen normally located slightly below tlie plane of said guides and having a support for a ribbon of absorbent material supported thereby and extending dovvn into said reservoir, and means for pressing each card against said ribbon as said card is passed along said guides.

t. A combination such as set out in claim 3 in which the card pressing device comprises a swingingniember having a presser face located above the card but supported on a pivotbelow the platen, whereby said presser face on` its downward movement makes contact initially with one edge `of the card and then progressively extends its area of contact across the card face to the opposite edge thereof.

5. A combination such as set out in claim 3 in which thekcard pressing device comprises a swinging member having a presser face composed of yielding absorbent material located above the card but supported on a pivot below the platen, whereby said presser face on its downward movement makes contact initially with one edge of tlie card and then progressively extends its area of contact across the card face to the opposite edge thereof.

6. A combination such as set out in claim 3 in which the said `pressing device comprises means for raising the ribbonl support and forcing said ribbon against the under surface of the card.

7. In acard dampening device the combination, with guides for the cards and intermittently acting means for feeding the cards along said guides, of a vertically movable platen having a dampened portion of its face located slightly below the level of the card in the guides when said feeding means is acting on the card, a. presser member located over said dampened portion and slightly above the card level duringthe same period, and means for raising said platen and lowering the presser member while said feeding means is not acting on the card.

8. In a card dampening device the combination, with guides for the cards, of a reciprocating claw for feeding a series of cards along said guides, a dampening device located adJacent the guides, a vibrating pedal, and connections from said pedal to said claw and said dampening device, whereby when said pedal is pressed downward the claw is moved toward the dampening device, and when said pedal is moved upward said claw is moved away from said dampening device and the latter is caused to operate on a card at rest in operative relation thereto.

9. In a card dampening device the combination, with a supporting frame, card guides thereon and means for feeding a series of cards along said guides, of a vertically movable platen'below said guides having a portion of its surface dampened, a presser ineinbei` above said guides overhangiiig said dampened portion of said platen and supported on a 4lever pivoted on the main frame and having its other end connected to said platen, and means for raising and lowering said platen; whereby, when the platen is raised, the presser member is lowered to force any card in the guides below it against the dampened portion of the platen, but when said platen is lowered said presser member is raised and the cards are left free to be moved along the guides.

l0. A combination such as set out in claim 9 in which the platen moving means comprises two parallel shafts provided with `toes engaging the under surface of said platen, levers on said shafts united by pin and slot connections, a spring normally tending to so rotate said shafts as to raisey said toes, and a pedal connected to one of said levers and adapted to rotate said shafts in reverse directions.

11. In a card stencilling apparatus the combination, with a set of card guides and intermittently operating means for feeding a series of cards along the same, of a typing' machine located over said guides and adapted to force type down on any card located in the guides beneath it, a vertically movable platen below the guides and extending under said typing machines, and means for lowering said platen when said card feeding means is acting on the cards; whereby cards may be driven over the lowered platen into position under Athe typing, machine, but the platen ismised into opeietive relation with the `typing-ineohiiie While theleai'ds are et rest in said guides,

12, A combination such aS. set` 'oitliv in claim 1l, infvvloiolii the portion of the platen under the typing machine isrpiovicled with a resilient surface edaptledto Cooperate there` l In a oard'dampening machine the oombintion of. reciprocating dainpening members, ay eoopeifating. reciprocating card feeding. device, mechanism connecting the two, spring means tending to operate said tinin of connected mechanisms byl its flex lineal@ nre, in one diieetiomend a lever adapted to be recipiooaltdbythe operation te flext Said spring and` move saidmeoliainisms in the opposite direction.

141 Infehcziid dampening machine the oombinetion'of a snpportingfiame, a reser- Voir for' clainpening liquid, ijigidon said freine, lvampening members movably,f mountedi on eeiclI frame, anclje ribbon of absorbent material'heldby said dainpening members and havinga free end suspended loosely in sa'iclreservoir.'y

ERWNe GEIGER- HENRY i1 Jnnnines. 

